Luke Humphries and Shaun Murphy, stars in their respective sports of darts and snooker, were involved in a very tense exchange as they competed against each other.
As part of the Paddy Power Perfect Challenge, two players from three sports – darts, snooker and golf – went head-to-head to settle a long-age debate of which is more easily achieved: A nine-darter, 147 or hole-in-one.
Murphy was joined by Mark Williams, Michael van Gerwen teamed up with Humphries and golf stars Matt Wallace and Ross Fisher took to the links at the Hertsmere Golf Club in London.
The snooker and darts pros shared the same stage just a few feet apart and often took the time to discuss the challenge with each other, before Humphries and Murphy had a clash of opinions.
Humphries explained that, in his view, the average Joe would find a 147 break a more difficult challenge than a nine-darter or hole-in-one, but to professionals, a snooker maximum is much more achievable.
“I think if you’re an amateur person who hasn’t played snooker, hasn’t played golf, hasn’t played darts, you give them a set of darts, a snooker cue and a golf club, I think they would do a hole-in-one first, the nine-darter second and 147 last,” Humphries claimed.
“I think that would be harder. But to a professional, I think a nine-darter is harder than a 147. You have seen them (Murphy and Williams), they know all the angles…”
At that point Murphy, 2005 world champion, erupted into a very loud laugh that echoed throughout the room and stopped Humphries in his tracks.
The atmosphere completely changed as Murphy hit back at Humphries, saying: “I didn’t know you were a comedian!”
A dead-pan Humphries replied: “What’s funny about that? Did you hear what I said though?”
He attempted to reiterate his point as Van Gerwen jokingly backed away and said “Woah, woah” as Humphries tried again to win Murphy over.
“When you know all the angles, in my opinion and you have your own one, when you know all the angles (a 147 is easier),” Humphries claimed. “You can see, Mark has come close already twice.
“That’s what I mean. I think when you are a professional and you are really good at the game of snooker, you make it look easy a 147.”
Humphries also claimed that statistically more 147s are made than nine-darters at a professional level, which Murphy rebuffed with: “That doesn’t make it easier
Van Gerwen also brought up how Murphy had previously claimed to have “thrown a nine”. He joked: “Hey Murph, to you everything is easy, isn’t it? Hitting nine-darters everywhere…”
The Magician has previously claimed to be the only person to have a hole-in-one, 147 break and a nine-darter on his sporting record.
He told the NCG Golf Podcast in 2012: “That is true and, currently, I think it’s a club of one. I don’t know anyone else who’s done all three.
“I’ve only had one hole-in-one and I’ve only had one nine-darter but as I sit here talking to you, I’m not aware of anyone else who’s done all three. People can send their applications in any way they want. There’s lots of room to join the club.”
